Pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract

A solid oral dosage composition of cefuroxime axetil comprising a tablet inside a capsule, the capsule serving to mask the bitter taste of the drug upon oral administration. This tablet-in-a-capsule format is bioequivalent to the commercial film-coated tablet.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration which comprises a core tablet of cefuroxime axetil inside a capsule.  
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet is in the shape of a capsule (caplet).  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the smallest dimension of the caplet is greater or equal to 65% of the internal diameter of the capsule.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the smallest dimension of the caplet is greater or equal to 75% of the internal diameter of the capsule.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the smallest dimension of the caplet is greater or equal to 80% of the internal diameter of the capsule.  
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the core tablet contains more than 10% w/w of a disintegrant.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the core tablet contains more than 15% w/w of a disintegrant.  
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the core tablet contains more than 20% w/w of a disintegrant.  
     
     
         9 . The composition according to claims  6 ,  7 , and  8 , wherein the disintegrant is selected from microcrystalline cellulose, starch, croscarmellose, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the cefuroxime axetil is substantially amorphous.  
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is a two-piece hard gelatin capsule.  
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is a two-piece hydroxypropylmethylcellulose capsule.  
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is a two-piece capsule made of vegetable or plant-based cellulose.  
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is a two-piece capsule made of polysaccharide.